Yarn aspirator

ABSTRACT

A winder for yarn and the like, having the automatic yarn transfer system of the present invention, includes a drive roll and at least two rotatable chucks each of which is adapted to carry a bobbin tube and is movable into and out of driven engagement with the drive roll. A traversing arrangement traverses a running yarn which is being wound onto one of the chucks, so as to form a yarn package on the latter. A transfer arrangement effects automatic transfer of the running yarn from the one chuck, upon forming of the yarn package thereon, to the other of the chucks. When the yarn package has been formed on the other chuck the running yarn is then automatically transferred again to the first-mentioned chuck.

United States Patent [1 1 Miller May 28', 1974 YARN ASPlRATOR PrimaryExaminer Richard A. Schacher [75] Inventor: Harry B. Miller, l-lopedale,Mass. Attorney Agent F'rm 'Mchael Smker [73] Assignee: Industrie-WerkeKarlsruhe 57] ABSTRACTv Akt'engesenschafl KarlSruhe A winder for yarnand the like, having the automatic Germany yarn transfer system of thepresent invention, includes [22] Filed; May 25, 1973 a drive roll and atleast two rotatable chucks each of I which is adapted to carry a bobbintube and is mov- [211 Appl 364107 able into and out of driven engagementwith the drive roll. A traversing arrangement traverses a running [52][1.8. CI. 226/97 y which i being wound onto one of the chucks, s0 [51]Int. Cl Bash 17/32 as to form a yarn package on the latter. A transferar- [58] Field of Search 226/7, 97; 28/ 1.4 r g n ff t a matic tr nsferof the running yarn from the one chuck, upon forming of the yarn [56]References Cited package thereon, to the other of the chucks. When theUNITED STATES PATENTS yarn package has been formed on the other chuckthe running yarn is then automatically transferred again to 3,7l8,2702/1973 Parmegglani 226/97 3,750,922 8/1973 Bethea 226/97 thefirst'mentoned chuck- 8 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures 'iATENTED KW 28 I974SHEET 0101 10 PATENTEDMY 28 m4 WWW PATENTEDMAY 28 I974 saw on nr 10PATENTEDMM 28 m4 sum as or 10 PATENTEUHAYZB I914 3813;020 sum 07 or 10PATENTEDmzemm $813,020 sum can? 10 PATENIED MAY 28 1914 sum 10 0F 1o mmNQ MN

INS

OL INHT OLMMT t Sin 0 ii YARN ASPERATQR matic yarn transfer system, andmore particularly to an automatic yarn transfer system in a winder foryarn and the like.

Yarn winding machines or winders are used by all yarn producers, usuallyin batteries of dozens or even hundreds of such winding machines. Thesemachines are utilized to wind yarn onto a bobbin tube which is mountedon a rotatable chuck, in order to form a yarn package on the bobbintube. The thread or yarn is usually supplied directly from a producer tothe winding apparatus. When a yarn package on the winding apparatus hasreached full size, that is when the yarn package has been completed, theincoming running yarn must be cut, the bobbin tube with the packageremoved, a new bobbin tube put in place on the chuck, and the windermust be rethreaded with the running yarn so that the yarn can begin toform a new package on the new bobbin tube. The package size, shape,weight or the like usually vary widely, depending upon the requirementsof a particular order.

Textile mills using such winders usually operate without interruptions,except for those caused by a breakdown. This means that thousands ofworkers are required to perform the necessary operations 24 hours a day,7 days a week. In part, the number of workers required is so highbecause each winding machine requires the individual attention of anoperator every time a bobbin tube must be changed, that is every time apackage has been completed and a new bobbin tube must be put in place onthe chuck and the winder rethreaded. Evidently, this is very expensivein terms of labor cost, especially if small packages must be produced,inasmuch as the heavier the yarn and the smaller the packages the moreoften the changing of bobbin tubes and re-threading of the winder mustbe performed.

It is known to provide winding apparatus or winders, as they willhereafter be called, with a single chuck or two chucks. If the winder isof the type having a single chuck, then the bobbin-tube changing andrethreading operation is particularly expensive in terms of labor costs,because the threading-up operation of a singlechuck winder involves thefollowing steps:

a. The incoming running yarn must be drawn into a string-up or thread-upaspirator and severed from the completed package. This is necessarybecause the yarn runs continuously and does not stop during the timerequired for removing the completed package and replacing it with a newbobbin tube.

b. The chuck on which the completed package is pro- 7 duced must bestopped and the bobbin tube released from the chuck.

c. Thereupon, the bobbin tube carrying the completed package is removedfrom the chuck.

d. An empty bobbin tube is then placed onto the chuck and clamped inplace.

e. Now the chuck is started up again and its take-up speed synchronizedwith the speed of the running yarn.

f. Finally, the yarn is manually brought to the chuck, threaded-up(connected with the chuck) and winding of a new package on the emptybobbin tube is begun.

During the time elapsed from the moment the running yam has been drawninto the aspirator and cut, until the moment winding of a new package isbegun, running yarn has been drawn into the aspirator and ejected fromthe same into a waste bin, so that such yarn is lost and represents aneffective loss of material.

in a two-chuck winder the operation is analogous to I the one justdescribed, except that the period for which yarn is wasted can besomewhat reduced in that an empty bobbin tube can already be in stand-byposition on the second chuck which can be ready in receive the runningyarn shortly after it has been severed from the completed package. Thecompleted package is then removed from its chuck while a new package isbeing formed on the second chuck. However, the transfer is still manualand requires the individual attention of an operator.

Considering the numbers of winders involved in such operations, and thenumbers of man-hours which must be spent in the manual re-stringing ofwinders every time a yarn package has been completed, and further takinginto account the amount of yarn which is being lost during the timewhich elapses between completion of one package and starting-up of thenext package, it is evident that further improvements in the state ofthe art are not only desirable but indeed of the highest economicsignificance. However, to my knowledge these improvements have notheretofore been forthcoming in this field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of thepresent invention to provide such improvements as outlined above. I

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide anovel automatic yarn transfer system for use in winders for yarn and thelike.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a novel yarn transfersystem for use with yarn winders having two, three or more chucks.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a yarn transfersystem which permits the automatic formation of a transfer tail on eachyarn package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel yarn transfersystem in accordance with the present invention which makes it possiblefor a single winder to simultaneously operate with one or more runningthreads or yarns.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a system of thetype in question which makes it possible to produce yarn packages ofuniform yarn length and which, when yarn is subsequently withdrawn fromthem will deliver the yarn uniformly and without plucks.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a yarn transfersystem wherein the crossing and entangling of the running yarn isavoided, even though two or more yarns may be running simultaneously tothe same winder and be automatically transferred from chuck to chuckupon adhesion of the respective yarn.

automatic yarn transfer system of the present invention.

An additional object of the invention is to provide improved cutters forsevering the yarnprior to transfer from a completed package to a newchuck, and for severing yarn which runs through the aspirator and whichisbeing picked up by a new chuck for starting of a new yarn package.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will becomeapparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, for use in awinder for yarn and the like, in a yarn aspirator which comprises anaspirating tube having an inlet for air and yarn, and an element whichimposes upon the aspirated air and yarn a swirling movement so that theaspirated yarn can be readily made to pass through a l80 turn.

Th novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, to-

gether understood from the following description of specific embodimentswhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a exploded chematic view,illustrating those components of a winder provided with my automaticyarn transfer system which are necessary for an understanding of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat disgrammatic front-elevational view of the winderin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side-elevational view of the winder shown inFIG. 2;

FIGS. 4-12 are respective diagrammatic front views illustratingyarn-transfer sequences in the novel winder;

FIG. 13 is a top-plan view of the drive roll of the novel winder;

FIG. 14 is an elevational view on line 14-14 of FIG. 3, looking in thedirection of the indicated arrows;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary exploded detail view illustrating details ofvarious components of the aspirator of the winder in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section through the aspirator of FIGS.1-3 and 15, with the components of FIG. 15 shown in assembled condition;

FIG. 17 is an exploded detail view illustrating one type of yarn cutteremployed in the novel winder;

FIG. 18 is a front-elevational view of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a section taken on line 1919 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an exploded view illustrating details of the components ofanother type of yarn cutter employed in the novel winder;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of the winder shown in FIG. 20;

FIGS. 22-27 are respective diagrammatic detail views showing a completeoperational sequence of the cutter in FIGS. 20 and 21; and

FIG. 28 is a pneumatic schematic illustrating an air logic controlsystem for controlling the functions of the novel winder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A winder employing the transfersystem according to the present invention should advantageously be ofthe surface drive type, that is it should have a drive roll which drivesthe rotatable chucks of the winder in response to contact of thesechucks with the circumferential surface of the drive roll. The driverollshould have a hollow stationary shaft upon which it rotates andthrough which the aspirator can discharge aspirator running yarn, in themanner to be described later. Two or more chucks should be provided, andif the winder has three chucks it is advantageous if two of them contactthe drive roll below a horizontal plane passing through its axis ofrotation and the third chuck contacts it above this horizontal plane andto one side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation. Atraverse arrangement for traversing the running yarn should be providedat the opposite side of the vertical plane, opposite the third chuck,and the chucks should move horizontally towards and away from the driveroll, that is into and out of engagement therewith. With theabove-general comments in mind, there will now be provided a descriptionof the basic machine components of the novel winder provided with theautomatic yarn transfer system.

THE BASICMACI-IINE COMPONENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-3, 13 and 14 it willbe seen that in these Figures I have illustrated details of the basicmachine components of the novel winder. Reference numeral 1 identifies adrive roll which is of the surface drive type and which is provided, asshown in FIG. 13, with a plurality of circumferentially extendingshallow grooves or flutes 130 in its outer circumferential surface. Thepurpose of these flutes 130 is to assure that the yarn Y running incontact with the outer circumferential surface of the drive roll 1 andonto a respective one of the chucks which are to be described, will besomewhat retarded in the manner illustrated in FIG. 13. The drive rollrotates about a stationary hollow axis and is driven by a belt 2 whichreceives motion from an electromotor 3. At one side of a vertical planepassing through the axis of rotation of the drive roll 1 (see FIG. 2)there is provided a conventional traverse guide 4 of the type used inmost winders, which serves to traverse the running yarn axially of arespective chuck so asto wind a uniform package thereon. Referencenumeral 5 identifies a support on which the transverse guide 4, whoseconstruction and operation are conventional and therefore need not bedescribed in detail, is mounted.

To prevent the yarn from slipping off the package onto which it is beingwound when the yarn is displaced forwardly (up from the plane of FIG. 2,and to the left in FIG. 3), the traverse guide is provided at itsforward end with a yarn-intercepting portion 4a whose operation will bereadily evident from a perusal of FIGS. 2 and 3.

A yarn aspirator 6, which will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 15 and 16, is mounted on the drive roll so as to communicate withthehollow stationary shaft of the latter. This shaft, incidentally, isidentified with reference numeral 1a and extends to the rear of thewinder as shown in FIG. 3. This makes it possible for waste yarn that isbeing discharged via the aspirator 6 and the shaft la, to be collectedin appropriately placed bins or receptacles located at the rear of thewinder. It is conventional practice to discharge such waste yarn intoreceptacles located at the front of the machinewhere they of coursehinder the movements of the operator who must service not one butseveral such winders and should therefore be able to move freely andconstitute a definite hazard. in addition, there is usually not muchspace available in front of these winders, especially when they areinstalled in form of batteries composed of many winders. This problem isovercome by the present invention because a receptacle located behindthe winder is out of the way and does not present a hazard to theoperator who usually is required to move only in front of the winder.

In the illustrated embodiment the winder is provided with three chucksC1, C2 and C3 each of which is provided with a guide 7 permitting it tomove as indicated by the double-headed arrows, namely horizontallytowards and away from the drive roll ll. Two of the chucks, namely Cland C2, are located so as to engage the drive roll 1 below a horizontalplane passing through the axis of rotation of the drive roll, and thechuck C3 is located so as to engage drive roll 1 above the chuck C2namely to the left of a vertical plane passing through the axis ofrotation of the drive roll and opposite the traverse guide 4. Referencenumeral 8 diagrammatically indicate drives for the chucks CH, C2 and C3so that the chucks can be moved along the guides 7. The chucks areadvantageously pneumatically operated so as to clampingly engage abobbin tube (not shown) which is slipped over them'and on which therespective yarn package is to be wound.

The swing arm 9, whose operation and purpose will be described later, ismounted on a support lit) for pivotal movement about a pivot axis ill.This pivotal movement is transmitted to the swing arm 9 and the support110 via a pneumatically operated cylinder and piston unit T2. In theregion of its lower end the swing arm 9 carries a shaped yarn guideplate 13 and a yarn cutter 16, the details of which latter will bedescribed with reference to FlGS. li7-l9.

The swing arm 9 could, incidentally, be replaced by another componentwhich performs the same function concerning the movement of the yarn.Thus, a cylinder and piston unit could be used, having the plate 113 andthe cutter 16 mounted on it. This would require mere straight-lineextension and retraction rather than a pivoting movement and would savespace.

Reference numeral i l designates a control cabinet provided with aplurality of function-controlling switches 15, for instance taggleswitches.

The free end of each of the chucks C l, C2 and C3 carries a further yarncutter 17 which serves not only for cutting but also for previouslypicking up the yarn which is being transferred to the respective chuck.Details of the cutter 17 will be described later with reference to FlGS.20-27.

The aspirator 6 is turnable in clockwise direction about the hollowstationary axis of the drive roll 1, as will be described subsequently,and can be arrested at several predetermined positions. For this purposethe axis la carries a registration plate 8 which rotates with it andwhich is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes 19.A sgot pin 26 can be advanced into, and retracted from the respectiveholes 19 by a pneumatic cylinder 21 which is mounted on a fixedcomponent of the winder. Thus, depending upon the particular hole 319 ofthe plate 113 into which the shot pin 20 enters, the plate l8 andthereby the aspirator d can be arrested at predetermined angularpositions which are designated with reference characters i, ll, ill

d and TV, respectively, in FIG. id. The direction of rotation of theplate llh is indicated by the arrow associated with it in H6. H4.

Mounted in the illustrated embodiment on the control cabinet id of REG.1 are various yarn guides and pushers. These are designated as top guideTG, bottom guide 86, yarn pusher YPA, yarn pusher YPB, and yarn pusherYPC. Each of the guides and pushers is provided with a pneumaticallyoperated cylinder and piston unit which effects movement of therespective guide or pusher in the direction indicated by the respectivedouble-headed arrows.

The top guides and bottom guides TG and 86 each comprise the illustratedpigtail yarn guides and it is their purpose to position the two runningyarns for pickup by yarn guides, which are attached to the yarn pushers(PA and YPB, at transfer time. The guides TG and HG operate twice everysix transfer cycles, namely on the first and on the fourth transfercycle. The yarn pushers YPA and YPB serve to pick up the respectiverunning yarns and to push them out of engagement with the traverse guide4 towards the swing arm 9, in readiness for pickup by the guide plate 13of the latter. This pickup occurs as the swing arm 9 moves forward(towards the left in FIG. 3) and the cylinders associated with thepushers YPA and YPB retract the same before the swing arm moves back toits normal broken-line position in H6. 3. The pusher YPA operates on thefirst, third, fourth and sixth transfer cycles and the pusher YIPBoperates on the second and fifth cycle. The yarn pusher YPC serves topush both of the running yarns out of the traverse guide dsimultaneously. It will operate to do so at the same time as the pusherYPA, namely on the first, seventh, 13th, etc. transfer cycles. Thepusher YPC retracts immediately after one of the running yarn has beendrawn into the aspirator 6, thus allowing the other running yarn to moveback into engagement with the traverse guide 4. The purpose of thepusher YlPC is to eliminate crossed and entangled yarns during transferoperations.

The operation of the automatic yarn transfer system will now bedescribed with reference to the sequence illustrated in FlGS. 4-112.

OPERATION OF THE YARN TRANSFER SYSTEM HUS. l-l2 illustrate oneoperational sequence of the novel winder, and the following descriptionshould be taken in conjunction withthese Figures as well as with H6. 28.

When the first yarn is to be strung up in the first operating cycle,which has been designated as the front yarn FY, it is passed through thepigtail associated with the top guide TG. By means of the switches 15 ofthe control cabinet 114 the winder is now activated and the cylinderZlwithdraws the shot pin 2th from the hole 19 of position ill. At thistime the cam switch Zfilb (see FIG. 28) is lifted, causing the chuck Clto move into engagement with the drive roll l. Just afterwards the camswitch Zhdb is lifted resulting in the yarn pushers YPA and YPC beingextended (towards the left in FIG. 1) and at the same time the swing arm9 moves forwardly to the full-line position shown in H6. 3. It should benoted that although the yarn pushers YPA and (PB are each controlled byits own cam switch 284a and 285e, respectively, these cam switches areinterconnected with the switch Zddb which operates the swing arm 9 18has been rotating and the shot pin 20, which is permanently urged intoengagement with the facing surface of the plate 18, now drops into thehole 19 corresponding to the transfer position IV; at the same time theshot pin delay cam switch 285a drops, starting a pneumatic delay whichallows the shot pin 20 to hold the mechanism in this position for apreset period of time. When the swing arm 9 reaches its full lineposition of FIG. 3 the yarn cutter I6 on the swing arm is operated. Thiscan for instance be effected by permitting a magnetically operated reedswitch to activate a solenoid which permits the flow of air to thecutter 16. Since at this time there is no yam going through the cutter,the sequence thus far referring only to a stringup operation. there willof course be no actual cutting taking place. The flow of air admitted tothe cutter 16 also operates a valve which causes the cylinder of theyarn pusher YPC to retract. At the end of the predetermined delay periodthe shot pin 20 is retracted from the hole corresponding to the transferposition IV and the plate 18 now rotates until the shot pin enters intothe hole corresponding to position I. At this time the free end or openend of the aspirator 6, into which the front yarn FY has-been passing,is located adjacent chuck C1. At the same time as the shot pin 20 entersposition I, cam switch 285a drops and activates the hold sequence whilecam switch 28 1b is released and allows yarn pusher YPA to retract,followed after a pneumatic delay by retraction swing arm 9 to thebroken-line position of FIG. 3. This return movement of the swing arm 9permits the front yarn FY to recede from the plane of the drawing (seeFIG. 6) so that it comes into range of and is engaged by the pick-up andcutter device 17 on chuck C1; this device picks up the yarn from theaspirator 6, forms a yarn transfer tail and at the same time severs theyarn from that which is already in the aspirator 6, and yarn can nowbegin to wind onto the chuck C1. By this time the predetermined delayperiod is completed and shot pin 20 is retracted from position I,allowing the aspirator 6 to continue moving in clockwise direction. Asthis takes place, cam switch 285b is lifted to prevent the shot pin 20from entering into the hole at position II so that the aspirator 6 andthe plate 18 will continue to rotate until the shot pin reaches andenters into the hole at position number ill, but it is the restposition. During this time, cam switch 282b drops and chuck C2 whichpreviously may have been in engagement with the drive roll 1, moves outof engagement therewith.

In the second operating cycle, the second or rear yarn RY is now strungup on the machine. This is passed through the pigtail guide of thebottom guide BG and the free end of the yarn is then run into theaspirator 6. The machine is started up again via the switches of controlcabinet 14, with the result that the shot pin 20 pulls out of the holeat position III and the aspirator begins to rotate. Cam switch 28212 islifted and causes chuck C2 to move back into engagement with the driveroll 1. As the aspirator 6 continues to move in clockwise directiontowards the transfer position IV,

cam switch 284!) is lifted and causes yarn pusher YPB to be extended,followed after a pneumatic delay by movement of swing arm 9 to thefull-line position of FIG. 3. The yarn RY is now engaged and severed bythe cutter 17 on chuck C2, so that winding commences onto this chuck.With both yarns now strung up, operation is automatic from here on. Themachine is now ready for transfer of yarn FY from chuck C1 to chuck C3during the third operating cycle.

Subsequently shot pin 20 enters the hole at transfer position V and atthe same time cam switch 285a drops, activating the present delay. Asthe swing arm 9 reaches its full-line position in FIG. 3, cutter 16operates but since this is still a string-up operation no yarn will bepresent and none can be cut. At the end of the predetermined delay theshot pin 20 pulls out of the hole at transfer position 1V and theaspirator 6 continues to rotate in clockwise direction. As it does so,cam switch 28511 is lifted and, in conjunction with the alreadyactivated cam switch 284a, the yarn pusher YPA is now caused to extend(towards the left in FIG. 1). The yarn guide provided on the yarn pusherYPA then pushes out the front yarn FY towards the left (in FIGS. 1 and10), causing it to be disengaged by the traverse guide 4. After theearlier-mentioned time delay, the swing arm 9 moves forwardly to thefull line position FIG. 3, picking up the front yarn FY with its guideplate 13. Meanwhile, the aspirator 6 has continued to rotate inclockwise direction and the shot pin 20 now enters into the hole attransfer position IV, and at the same time cam switch 285a drops tostart the preprogrammed delay period. As the swing arm 9 reaches the endof its forward travel, that is moves finally into the position shown infull lines in FIG. 3, its cutter 16 operates; and cuts the yarn which isengaged by the guide plate 13. Sine the yarn is located directlyadjacent and in front of the open end of the aspirator 6 at this time,the yarn is sucked into; the aspirator 6 and passes through the axis 1ato be accommodated in a waste bin or the like located at the rear of thewinder. Subsequent to the cutting of the arm and its engagement by theaspirator 6, the pre-programmed delay is completed, the shot pin 20pulls out of the hole at position IV and the aspirator 6 begins itsclockwise travel again. Because at this time the cam switch 285!) isactivated, the shot pin 20 does not enter into the holes at positions Iand II, but will enter only into the hole at position III at which timethe free end of the aspirator with the front yarn FY which iscontinuously running into the latter, will be located opposite chuck C3.During the travel of the aspirator 6 to this position, cam switch 281!)drops and causes chuck C1 to move away from the drive roll 1, that istowards the right in FIG. 10. At the same time as the shot pin 20 entersinto the hole at position III, the cam switch 284b is released andcauses the cylinder of yarn pusher YPA to retract the same, followedafter the programmed delay by movement of the swing arm 9 back to itsbrokenline position of FIG. 3. This movement allows the yarn FY torecede enough from the plane of the drawing in FIG. 10 so that it cancome in contact with a pickup and cutter device 17 on chuck C3 whichdevice entrains the yarn, forming a transfer tail, and cuts it off theportion already in the aspirator 6. Since the chuck C3 of course rotatesat this time due to its engagement with the drive roll 1, winding of ayarn package on chuck C3 now begins.

At this time the operator (or even an automatic doffing mechanism)removes the yarn package from chuck Cl, and also during this time thewinder now forms yarn packages on chucks C2 and C3.

When the yarn package on chuck C2 is completed the fourth cyclecommences. The shot pin 2b is withdrawn from the hole at position ill,permitting the aspirator to begin its clockwise movement. Cam switch281b lifts, causing chuck Ci (on which a new bobbin tube has beeninstalled) to move into engagement with the drive roll 1. This is theposition shown in FlG. ll. Yarn guide TG now moves rearwardly and guideBG moves forwardly, each with its associated yarn. Cam switch 28% alsolifts, immediately followed by cam switch 2M5), so that the yarn pusherYPA is extended to the left and pushes the yarn RY to the same directionand out of engagement with the traverse guide 4. After the programmeddelay the swing arm 9 moves forwardly to the full line position of FIG.3 and its guide plate 13 engages the yarn RY and pushes it forwardly forengagement by the aspirator 6 whose free end will become positionedadjacent the rear yarn RY when the shot pin enters into the hole attransfer position W, at which time the aspirator 6 is temporarilyarrested as the cam switch 285a drops to initiate the programmed delay.The positioning of the aspirator 6 by entry of the shot pin into thehole at transfer position IV takes place just as the swing arm 9 reachesthe full-line position and its cutter 16 cuts the yarn, so as to severit from the package which has been formed on chuck C2 and to permit thecut end (the free end of the incoming running yarn) to be drawn into theaspirator 6.

After the pre-programmed delay in the movement of the aspirator 6 hasended, which delay is of course so selected as to be just long enough topermit the proper positioning of the yarn and its engagement by theaspirator, shot pin 2th is pulled out of the hole at position IV and theaspirator 6 moves in clockwise direction until the shot pin 20 reachesthe hole at position l into which it engages, thus arresting the freeend of the aspirator adjacent the free end of the chuck Ci. Cam switch285a now drops, initiating a further delay and at the same time camswitch 28% drops, causing pusher YPA to retract and swing arm 9 to moveback to its broken-line position. This latter movement permits the rearyarn RY which is engaged by the aspirator (see FIG. 11) to come intorange of the pickup and cutter device 17 on the free end of chuck Ci,which device engages the yarn and cuts it, whereupon winding of apackage on chuck C1 begins. When the programmed delay has ended, shotpin 20 is retracted from the hole at position I and aspirator 6continues to move in clockwise direction. Cam switch 28% is lifted andprevents shot pin 20 from entering into the hole at position ll, so thatthe aspirator continues to move in clockwise direction until the shotpin enters into the hole at position Ill and the aspirator has reachedits rest position again. During the movement of the aspirator to thisrest position, cam switch 2282b drops, causing chuck C2 to move towardsthe left in FIG. lll out of engagement with the drive roll 1, so thatthe package on chuck (32 can be removed. Also, cam switch 284a drops andcam switch 281a lifts, in preparation for movement of the appropriateyarn pushers during the next operating cycle.

This fifth operating cycle begins when the yarn package on chuck C3 hasreached its desired size and the shot pin 20 is retracted from the holeat position ill,

lid

permitting the aspirator 6 to move in clockwise direction. At the sametime, cam switch 2812b lifts, permitting chuck C2 to move back intoengagement with the drive roll ll, and cam switch 28419 is operated.This causes the yarn pusher YFB to extend and push the front yarn F Y,which has been running onto chuck C3, to the left and out of engagementwith the traverse guide 4. After the previously mentioned delay, theswing arm 9 moves forwardly, engaging the front yarn FY with its guideplate 1.3 and pushing the front yarn FY to the left, that is to theposition shown in FIG. 3. The shot pin 20 now enters into the hole attransfer position IV as a result of continued movement of the aspirator6, and at the same time cam switch ZdSa drops and initiates theprogrammed delay. When the swing arm 9 reaches its full line position inH6. 3, the front yarn FY is cut by its cutter lid and the free end ofthe running front yarn FY is engaged and drawn into the aspirator 6which is in position to do so at this time. Upon completion of the delayperiod the shot pin 20 is withdrawn from the hole at position IV andaspirator 6 again moves in clockwise direction. Cam switch 285b islifted so that shot pin 20 bypasses the hole at position I, andsubsequently switch 28Sb drops so that the shot pin will then enter intothe hole at position [I so that the free end of the aspirator 6 islocated opposite the free end of chuck C2. Cam switch 285a now drops,initiating a further delay and at the same time cam switch 28% alsodrops, causing pusher YPB to retract and subsequently the swing arm 9 tomove back to its broken line position. This allows the yarn FY to beengaged and entrained by the pickup and cutter device 17 on chuck C2(see FIG. l2) and to be cut so that it can then be wound onto the chuckC2. At the end of the delay period the shot pin 20 is withdrawn from thehole at position ll and the aspirator continues to move until its shotpin enters into the hole at rest position lll. During movement to thisrest position the cam switch 28 la drops and the switch 2849a is lifted,preparing the yarn pushers for the next operating cycle. During thistime, also, the cam switch 283 drops and causes chuck C3 to move towardsthe left, away from the drive roll 1 so that the yarn package on thischuck can be doffed.

The sixth cycle begins as the yarn package on chuck Ci has reached fullsize and the yarn running onto chuck Cll, namely the yarn RY, is to betransferred to chuck C3. To initiate this cycle the shot pin 20 iswithdrawn from the hole at position ill and the aspirator begins to movein clockwise direction. Cam switch 283a lifts and causes chuck C3, fromwhich the package has been removed and on which a new empty bobbin tubehas been installed to move towards the right into contact with the driveroll 1. Cam switch 28% lifts, causing the yarn pusher YPA to extendtowards the left and pick up the rear yarn RY which is running ontochuck Cll. Swing arm 5) moves forward to its extended position, pickingup the yarns RY with its plate 13 and holding it ready for engagement bythe aspirator 6. When the aspirator s has reached the transfer positionIV the shot pin 2%) enters into the hole at that position and at thesame time cam switch 285a drops, initiating the programmed delay. As theswing arm 9 reaches its full line position the cutter 16 cuts the rearyarn RY running onto the chuck (31, so that the loose end of the runningyarn can be aspirated into the aspirator 6. At the end of the delay theshot pin 2th is withdrawn from the hole at position TV so that aspirator6 can continue to rotate in clockwise direction. Meanwhile, cam switch285b has'been raised so that the shot pin bypasses the holes at positionI and II and enters only into the hole at position III after cam switch2851) has dropped again. At the same time, cam switch 285a drops andinitiates a further delay, and also cam switch 284b drops and causes theyarn pusher YPA to retract. Subsequently, swing arm 9 returns to itsretracted position (the broken-line position in FIG. 3), permitting therear yarn RY which is engaged by the guide plate 13 to move into contactwith the pickup and cutter device 17 on the free end of chuck C3, whichdevice entrains the yarn RY and cuts it off the portion in theaspirator, so that the yarn can now wind onto chuck C3. Cam switch 281bdrops and causes chuck C1 to move out of engagement with the drive roll1 for removal of the tinished yarn package.

The six operating cycles constitute a complete operating sequence of thewinder and are constantly repeated in this sequence. However, becausethe first cycle described herein was actually a string-up cycle and didnot take place as part of the automatic operation of the winder, it isnecessary to examine one more cycle which is the first cyclev of theoperating sequence when the winder operates fully automatically. This isnecessary because one of the operations which took place in the firstcycle previously described produced no direct result, namely theoperation relating to the movement of the yarn pusher YPC. A comparisonof the cycle description which follows with the description of the firstcycle that was given earlier will show the difference. When yarn is tobe transferred from chuck C2 to chuck C1 upon completion of the packageon the former, the shot pin is withdrawn from the hole at position IIIand the aspirator begins to move in clockwise direction. Yarn guide TGnow moves forward and guide BG moves rearward, each with its associatedyarn. Cam switch 28lb lifts, causing chuck C1 to move into engagementwith the drive roll 1, and cam switch 283b drops. Approximately at thesame time cam switch 285C lifts, preparing pusher YPC for movement. Thistakes place as cam switch 28412 lifts, causing the yarn pusher YPA and'YPC to move out towards the left, resulting in pushing-out of both ofthe yarns FY and RY out of engagement with the traverse guide 4.Subsequently, the swing arm 9 moves to its forward full-line position inFIG. 3, picking up both of the yarns FY and RY with its guide plate 13which for this purpose is provided with two separate pick-up notches asshown in FIG. 1. The yarn which has been moved out by pusher YPA andwhich is at this time running onto chuck C2, is engaged by the cutter 16on the swing arm, whereas the yarn pushed forward by the pusher YPC ismerely picked up by one of the notches on the plate 13.

Now the shot pin 20 enters into the hole at transfer position IV and atthe same time cam switch 285a drops, initiating the programmed delay.When the swing arm 9 reaches its forward position, that is the fulHineposition, the yarn running onto the chuck C2 and engaged by the cutter16 is cut by the latter, and its free end is picked up by the aspirator6 into which it is drawn. At this time the pusher YPC is retracted, forinstance by operating a valve which switches off the supply of air toits cylinder in response to operation of the cutter l6, and the yarnengaged by the pusher YPC can thus move back into engagement with thetraverse 12 guide 4. At the end of the delay the shot pin 20 iswithdrawn from the hole at position IV and the aspirator 6 continues tomove in clockwise direction until the shot pin 20 enters into the holeat position I and cam switch 285a drops, initiating a further delay.Also at the same time cam switch 284b drops to permit pusher YPA toretract and swing arm 9 to move back to its broken line position, thusallowing the yarn engaged by the swing arm to become engaged andentrained by the pickup and cutter device 17 on chuck C1, whereupon itwill be cut and begin to wind onto the chuck C1, At the end of the delaythe hot pin 20 is withdrawn from the hole at position I an the camswitch 285b is lifted, so that as the aspirator 6 continues to move inclockwise direction it will bypass the hole at position II and its shotpin will enter into the hole at position III. During this movement thecam switch 282b drops, causing chuck C2 to move out of engagement withthe drive roll 1 so that the yarn package can be removed from thischuck. Also, cam switch 285c drops and switches 284a and 281arespectively drop and rise in order to prepare pushers YPA and YPB forthe next operating cycle.

The periods at which transfer of yarn from one chuck to another isinitiated will depend upon the size of yarn packages to be formed on therespective chuck; a timer can be provided which can be set as desired inaccordance with the time period required for a yarn package of desiredsize to be formed on a respective chuck. The respective yarn will ofcourse always be in contact with the circumferential surface of thedrive roll as it runs onto one of the chucks or is transferred from oneto another chuck.

It is clear that with this construction two yarn packages are beingwound simultaneously and that the yarn (whether there be one or more)will always run continuously without ever having to stop due to the factthat during the transfer of yarn from one chuck to another the runningyarn passes through the aspirator and out the open end of the axis la atthe rear side of the apparatus. Also, the provision of the yarn pushersYPA and YPB, and their guides TG and BG, assures that the problem ofcrossed and entangled yarns is avoided, because the yam to betransferred from one chuck to another can be made to pass behind therunning yarn (which is being wound onto a package that is not yetcompleted), whereby crossing and entangling of the yarns is avoided.

At such times as the problem of crossed and tangled yarns could occur(in the absence of the provisions made herein) the yarn pushers andguides are appropriately operated. If it is'assumed that the second yarnclosest to the plane of FIG. 2 (and left-most in FIG. 3) is the runningyarn which is provided in guide 86 and being wound onto a package, andthe first yarn behind it is provided in TG and has completed theformation of a package and is to be transferred to a waiting reservechuck, then transferring the first yarn would obviously cause it totangle with the second yarn. This is avoided by operating guide BG whichshifts the second yarn rearwardly with reference to the plane of FIG. 2,and operating guide TG which shifts the first yarn forwardly withreference to the same plane. Now, pusher YPA i0 operated to shift thefirst yarn to the left in FIG. 2, and pusher YPC is operated to shiftthe second yarn in the same direction but not quite as far as the pusherYPA shifts its first yarn to the left. Both yarns now continue to run inparallel and are engaged by the guide plate 13 of the swing arm 9 intothe two notches of which they respectively enter. This effectivelyavoids any tangling or crossing of the yarns, as well as rubbing of thesame against each other, which could lead to yarn damage The first yarncan now be engaged by the aspirator as previously described, and cut offfor the package onto which it has been winding, by the swing arm cutter16. At this time, the second yarn is allowed to return into engagementwith the guide element of the traverse guide 4, by retracting yarnpusher YPC (to the right in FIG. 2), which yarn pusher is operated inresponse to operation of the swing arm cutter 16.

It is also possible to make the speed at which the swing arm 9 isretracted from its full-line position to its broken line position inFIG. 3, variable so that a variation in the length of the transfer tailbeing formed on the respective package can be obtained. This will bedescribed in more detail later with respect to FIGS. 20-27.

THE YARN ASPIRATOR Details of the aspirator 6 are illustrated in FIGS.and 16. The aspirator has certain features which are most important inconjunction with the overall operation of the novel winder. On the onehand, the construction of the aspirator, details of which will bediscussed presently, assures that the yam can easily and with strongsuction be drawn through a 180 bend which is required in order to permitthe yarn to be passed through the axis 1a of the drive roll to the rearside of the wnder, contrary to conventional practice where the yarn isdischarged at the front of the winder. Furthermore, the discharge of thewaste yarn in this manner, namely to the rear of the winder, is possibleat all only by having the aspirator 6 mounted on the hollow axis la ofthe drive roll, thereby greatly simplifying the disposal of water yarnas outlined earlier.

In addition the particular mounting of the aspirator, which has beenchosen in accordance with the present invention, provides the aspiratorat a location which is ideal 'for wrapping the yarn engaged by theaspirator around the drive roll, and in particular wrapping it aroundthe drive roll in the direction of the running yarn being wound. Theaspirator can thus reach all of the chucks equally well and uniformly,and simplicity of yarn transfer is thus achieved with a minimum ofcomplicated construction.

With this in mind it will be seen that FIGS. 15 and 16 show details ofthe aspirator 6. Reference numeral 160 identifies an outer tube intowhich air is blown in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 16, andreference numeral I61 identifies an inner tube which is curved insubstantial U-shape-and through which air is drawn, also in direction ofthe arrows shown in FIG. 16. The interior passage of the tube 161 isidentified with reference numeral 166. The end portion of the tube 161is identified with reference numeral 162 and a cross tube extending fromthe tube 160 with which it communicates, to the end portion 162, isidentified with reference numeral 163. Reference numeral 164 designatesan annular passage formed in the end portion 162, and reference numeral165 designates screw threads formed in the free end of the end portion162. The inlet end of the passage 166 is designated with referencenumeral 166a.

A cap 167 (omitted in MG. 15) is provided which can be threaded onto thescrew threads of the end portion 162. it has a transverse end wall 167awhich is formed with an inlet opening 168 into which yarn Y is to beaspirated. A cylindrical member 169 is located within the confines ofthe cap 167 and provided with a center passage 1711 and with a pluralityof axially extending grooves 171 in its outer circumferential surface.An O-ring 172 is compressed between the member 169 and the free end ofthe end portion 162 so as to seal the passage 16 1 from the passage1166a. A cylindrical guide member 173 is located in the passage of themember 169 and is itself provided with a center passage 175 whichcommunicates with the opening 168 and with the inlet end 166a of thepassage 166. The outer circumferential surface of the member 173 isformed with a plurality of helically twisted grooves 174 which alsocommunicate with theinlet end 166a and, in addition, with a space 16712existing between a sealing member 176 and the member 169, so that thegrooves 17-1 are in communication with the grooves 171 as shown in FKG.16. It will be appreciated that as air under pressure is blown throughthe outer tube 160 it will pass via the tube 163 into the grooves 169,from there into the space 167b and then into the grooves 174 to issueinto the inlet end 1660 of the tube 161. This creates suction in thetube 161, drawing the yarn Y into the inlet end 168. Due to the factthat the air is "caused to swirl on entry into the inlet end 166a, as aresult of its passage through the helical grooves 174, a particularlygood aspirating effect is obtained which reliably assures the passage ofthe yarn Y through the bend in the tube 161 and into the axis In.

THE SWING ARM YARN CUTTER Another important feature according to thepresent invention is the yarn cutter 16 provided in the swing arm 9.This cutter is of the anvil type and is necessary to sever the runningyarn from the yarn package that has already been formed on one of thechucks. The cutter must be highly reliable and rapid in its operation,and must be operable at a required moment in time.

Such a construction is obtained with the cutter 16 which is illustratedin more detail in FIGS. 17, 18 and 1?. As shown there, reference numeraldesignates a housing that is mounted, as diagrammatically illustrated inFIG. 19, on the swing arm h. The housing 190 is formed with an interiorchamber 191 which has an open side. Furthermore, the housing 190 is alsoprovided with a bore 192 which communicates with the chamber 101 in theregion of the closed side (the rear wall) of the chamber 191. Thisbore-can be connected with a pneumatic conduit 1% which has beendiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 19.11. cover plate or anvil member19 1 is provided which can be secured to the housing 1% in suitablemanner, for instance by means of screws through the illustrated holes,so as to overly the open side of the chamber 191. FIG. 19 showsparticularly clearly that the member 194 is provided with suitableapertures, such as the holes 196 (compare also FIG. 17) which extendfrom its side facing towards to its side facing outwardly away from theopen side of the chamber 191. The side facing outwardly away from thechamber 191 is provided with a lead-spring 195 which is secured to themember 1% in appropriate manner, for instance by rivetting, by means ofa screw or the like and a portion of which overlies the holes 196 asshown in FlG. 17. The side of the member 194 which faces the chamber 191is recessed as best shown in F168. 17 and 19. The rear wall of thechamber 191 is provided with a projecting stud 197 (see FIG. 19) andforwardly of the same there is lodged in the chamber 191 a diaphragm 198which may also be provided with a projection 199 which engages the stud197. The diaphragm 198 is so located that the bore 192 communicates withthe chamber 191 rearwardly of the diaphragm 198. Forwardly if thediaphragm 198 there is accommodated in the chamber 19 a punch member 200carrying at its side facing the anvil member 194 a projecting cuttingedge 202. At opposite lateral sides of the cutting edge 202 there areprovided two projections or pins 201 which extend into the holes 196 ofthe member 194. These are locating pins located on a common linetransversely of the elongation of the cutting edge 202.

' face of the anvil member 194. It will thus extend across the cuttingedge 202,being located in this position as it enters the space by thelocating pins 201. This is shown most clearly in broken lines in FIG.18.

When compressed air is admitted via the bore 192 into the chamber 199behind the diaphragm 198, the spacing of which latter from the rear wallof the chamber is assured by cooperation of the portions 197 and 199,the diaphragm will be rapidly flexed outwardly (towards the right in FI6. 19), Pushing the punch member 200 in the same direction. This causesthe cutting edge 202 to cooperate with the anvil member 194, cutting theyarn Y located between the cutting edge and the anvil member 194 in arapid and clean operation. The movement of the member 200 towards theright causes the locating pins 201 which are carried on the member 200to deflect the spring 195 outwardly (towards the right in FIG. 19). Upontermination of the momentary admission of compressed air via the bore192, the spring 195 thus returns the member 200 to its position inwardlyof the open side of the chamber 191, by pushing against the locatingpins 201.

The cutter will thus be seen to be highly reliable in its operation,because the yarn Y will always be located in proper position relative tothe cutting edge 202, extending across the same and being maintained inthis position by the locating pins 201. Furthermore, due to the factthat the member 200 is always returned within the chamber 191immediately upon termination of the admission of compressed air, thespace for admission of 'the'yarn Y to be cut, is always unobstructed.

THE YARN PICK-UP AND CUTTER DEVICE ON THE CHUCKS Another veryimportantcomponent of the apparatus according to the present invention is theyarn pick-up and cutter device 17, of which one is provided on the onthe free end of the respective chuck. An exposed end face 210a of themounting member 210, which end face faces axially away from the chuck onwhich the member is mounted, has secured to it in overlying relationshipbut with some spacing from'the surface 210a, a yarn engaging member 211of the particular configuration which is shown most clearly in FIG. 20.The member 211 has in its arcuately recessed side two depressions,namely a smaller depression or recess 219 and a larger depression orrecess 220. It is further provided with two rounded lobes 217 and 218 ofwhich the latter separates the recesses 219 and 220 as shown. A cutterblade 212 is releasably mounted on the side of the member 211 whichfaces away from the surface 2111a, bridging the recess 2211 somewhatinwardly of the open side thereof. It should be noted that the thicknessof the member 211, that is its dimension measured between its twoopposite major surfaces, increases from the end which is the righthandend in FIG. 20 towards the left-hand end. Thus, when the member 211 ismounted on the surface 210a, it can be in direct engagement with thissurface at its left-hand end and will yet be spaced from the surface210a in the region of the recesses 219 and 220 and the lobes 217 and218.

A pair of holes 216 are provided in the surface 210a from which theyextend inwardly, and a wire bracket 213 of substantially U-shapedoutlines has its two legs received in these holes 216, respectively. Apusher pin 214 is provided having a portion of reduced cross sectionwhich is received in and serves as a guide for a helical expansionspring 215, the latter bearing upon the surface 210a or, preferably,being in part received in an additional hole formed therein. Thus, thespring 215 urges the bracket 213 outwardly away from the surface 210aand into biased engagement with that side of the member 211 which facesthe surface 210a. The location of the bracket 213 and of the pusher pin214 are shown in broken lines in FIG. 21 with reference to the member211. Located at opposite sides of the bight portion of the bracket 213are two locating pins 210b which project into engagement with the member211 and serve, as will be discussed presently, the same purpose as thelocating pins 201 in FIG. 17.

The device 17 serves to pick up the running yarn which passes throughthe aspirator 6, when the inlet opening of the aspirator 6 is locatedadjacent the free end of the respective chuck, and thus adjacent thedevices 17 thereon. The yarn which is so held and passes through theaspirator, will be located forwardly of the device 17 due to the factthat it is pushed in such a position by the swing arm 9 which at thetime the aspirator 6 stops adjacent the respective chuck is in itsfull-line position shown in FIG. 3. When the swing arm 9 then moves backto its broken line position shown in FIG. 3, the inclination of therunning yarn coming from above and entering into the aspirator 6 willchange, that is the yarn will move into contact with the member 210 sothat it can be engaged by the device 17.

A sequence of operation of the device 17 is illustrated in FIGS. 22-27.FIG. 22 shows, by way of example, that the aspirator 6 is in such aposition as to have its open inlet end adjacent the chuck C1 which is inengagement with the drive roll 1 and is being rotated by the same. Theyarn Y passes through the diagrammatically illustrated traverse guide 4and around the drive roll 1 and enters the inlet of the aspirator 6 at apoint designated with reference numeral 221. In FIGS. 23-27 the showingof the drive roll and aspirator has been omitted for clarity and onlythe reference point 22B is illustrated. In other words, as far as thepick up device 17 is concerned, the point 2211 to which the yarn extendsfrom above (after in this instance first passing around the drive rollI) is stationary in space because the aspirator 6 does not of courserotate during the pickup.

When the non-illustrated swing arm 9 moves back to its broken lineposition in FIG. 3, this changes the angle at which the yarn Y movesonto the drive roll I, so that the yarn shifts on the drive roll Iaxially towards the device 17 on the chuck Ci, that is in the directionaway from the viewer of FIG. 22. That portion of the yarn which extendsfrom its point of last contact with the drive roll surface to the point221 at which it enters into the aspirator 6, will now move into thepickup range of the device 17. In so doing it will be engaged duringrotation of the chuck Cll by the lobe 217 as shown in FIG. 23. Since thechuck continues to rotate in counterclockwise direction (see FIG. 22)the engaged part of the yarn Y (which is held at point 22l) will slipover the rounded lobe 217 and enter the recess 219. This is shown inFIG. 24. During continuous rotation of the chuck C1 the yarn will nowslip between thespringbiassed bracket 213 and the member Zllll, to thusbe clamped. It cannot slip out from under the bracket 213 again, becauseit moves into contact with the locating pins 2M which prevent such apossibility. Since the yarn continues to be held at point 221, and sincethe chuck continues to rotate, the clamped yarn (the clamping positionis shown in FIG. 25) now takes a. turn which places it across thecutting edge of the blade 212, as shown in FIG. 26. As a result of this,the yarn Y is severed from that yarn portion which extends into theaspirator and this latter yarn portion, now being free, is sucked awayby the aspirator and ejected through the axis la. Now, the running yarncoming from the traverse guide 4 is being wound onto the chuck CI. Thatportion of yarn Y which is clamped between the member 21] and thebracket 2113, and which has been convoluted once or twice about themember 211 during the pick-up sequence just described, is a so-calledtransfer tail, that is it will hang free out of the yarn package finallyformed. This is highly desirable because when such a package is later onplaced onto a yarn processing machine, the transfer tail of the workingpackage (the package from which yarn is being withdrawn) is tied by theoperator to a similar transfer tail of a reserve package so that, whenthe first package runs out, yarn will be immediately and automaticallywithdrawn from the reserve package, eliminating the necessity forstopping the machine to thread up the next package.

TI-I-E PNEUMATIC SYSTEM Coming, finally, to FIG. 28 it will be seen thatin this Figure there is illustrated a pneumatic control system forcontrolling the operations which have been described heretofore. FIG. 28is a pneumatic schematic and will be largely self-explanatory. Variouscompomatically, and in particular there are shown the top guide TG, thebottom guide HG, the yarn pushers YPA, YPB and YPC. Also illustrated isthe swing arm 9, the drive roll I with the aspirator d, and the chucksCl, C2 and C3.

lit

.nents being controlled have been illustrated diagram- The sequencing ofthe various operations is efiected by means of a plurality of cams 281,282, 283, and 285 (see also FIG. 3) located advantageously at the rearof the machine. For purposes of the diagrammatic illustration in FIG.2%, it is shown that each of the cams 281-284 has two cam portions whichare diagrammatically shown in FIG. 28 asthe cam portions 281a, 2311),ssza, 282b, 283a, 2%312, Edda and 28412. The cam 285 has three camportions 285a, ZSSb and 28% (see also FIG. 3). Each of these camportions cooperates with a pneumatic switch which are diagrammaticallyshown in FIG. 23 and are labelled. The connections between theseswitches and the various components being controlled by them are shownin FIG. 2% The switch controlled by cam portions 281a controls theoperation of yarn pusher YPB, the switch controlled by cam portion 28%controls the movement of chuck CI into and out of engagement with thedrive roll. The switch controlled by cam portion 282a controls theprogram which effect return of the entire machine to string-up position,the switch associated with cam portion 282b controls the movement ofchuck C2 and that associated with cam portion 283a controls the movementof chuck C3. The movements of top and bottom guides TG and BG arecontrolled by the switch associated with the cam portions 281%, and theswitch associated with cam portions 2% controls movement-of the yarnpusher YPA. The swing arm 9 is controlled by the switch associated withcam portions 28% are the previously mentioned delays in the retractionof the shot pin 20 from the holes at the respective locations I-IV(which delay of course imposes the corresponding delay in clockwisemovement of the aspirator 6) are controlled by the switch associatedwith cam portion 285a. The actual movement of the shot pin 2d, orratherthe cylinder 21 associated therewith, is controlled by the switchassociated with cam portion 285b, and the movement of the yarn pusherYPC is controlled by the switch associated with cam portion 2850. Thus,the operation of the machine can be controlled by the air logic systemshown in FIG. 28. Of course, details of the various air switches andtheir interconnection have been omitted, because in themselves thesefeatures are not novel. It should also be understood that the operationof the machine could be controlled in other ways, for instanceelectrically.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofapplications differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in ayarn winder having an automatic yarn transfer system, it is not intendedto be limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

1. An aspirator for yarn and the like, comprising a substantiallyC-shaped tubular member having a center passage and two arm portionseach provided with an open end of said passage, one of said open ends ofone of said arm portions being adapted for connection with a source ofsuction; wall means defining at the other of said open ends of the otherof said arm portions an outer annular passage encircling said centerpassage and being open in the region of said other open end; a capmounted on said tubular member at said other end and having an interioropen to both of said passages, and a transverse wall spaced from saidpassages and provided with an aspirating opening; a first cylindricalmember received in said interior defining a gap with said transversewall and having a first axial bore communicating with said centerpassage and a plurality of axial grooves provided in a circumferentialsurface and each communicating with said annular passage; a secondcylindrical member received in said first axial bore and having a secondaxial bore coaxial and communicating with said other open end and saidaspirating opening; and a plurality of axially extending helical groovesprovided in a circumferential surface of said second cylindrical member;and conduit means for connecting said annular passage with a source ofgaseous fluid under pressure so that such fluid sequentially passes fromsaid annular passage through said axial grooves, said gap and saidhelical grooves and into said other open end, receiving a helical motionduring passage through said helical grooves.
 2. An aspirator as definedin claim 1; and further comprising sealing means between said transversewall and said second cylindrical member for preventing directcommunication between said aspirating opening and said gap.
 3. Anaspirator as defined in claim 1; and further comprising cooperatingengaging portions on said wall means and said cap for releasablyconnecting the latter with the former.
 4. An aspirator as defined inclaim 3, wherein said engaging portions are screwthreads provided onsaid wall means and said cap, respectively.
 5. An aspirator as definedin claim 1; and further comprising a sealing ring between said firstcylindrical member and said tubular member for preventing directcommunication between said center passage and said axial grooves.
 6. Anaspirator as defined in claim 5, wherein said sealing ring is an O-ring.7. An aspirator as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduit meanscomprises a first conduit portion extending from one to the other ofsaid arm portions transversely thereof and communicating with said otheropen end, and a second conduit portion coaxially and with clearancesurrounding said other arm portion and communicating with said firstconduit portion.
 8. An aspirator as defined in claim 1, wherein saidaspirating opening is outwardly divergent for facilitating the entry ofsaid yarn into said opening.